I stayed in Lambeth for three weeks in a friend's flat trying to get a job in 2001 but I couldn't find anything that would get me much leafier than Tower Hamlets or the Elephant & Castle, despite me just having graduated from a would-be masters. I shudder to think what it's like now. If I were Ken Livingstone or David Milliband, I'd be making affordable housing a top priority that's on the BBC news podcast at least once a fortnight.
Living in New York, I've had a shared apartment arranged for me by work which is being taken away on conclusion of work. I've never found out how much it costs exactly, but being where it is I can only imagine I'd be pretty rich I've they'd paid me the money instead. Where it is has taken something of a downturn since 9/11, and indeed it couldn't have been much fun living here 4 to 5 years ago and recovery of the area has been slow compared to intial expectations. It's what we have the film festival for. I'm moving to Washington Heights among the Dominicans and the Yeishevah students. It's going to be something of a culture shock.
I have two friends who are in their early 30s now and are both owner occupiers from '97; one in Edinburgh, one in New York.
Edinburgh one was ordered by her mum while a student to use some money she came into to buy a two bedroom on Bruntsfield Links. She now lives in London as a postgrad student.
New York one was similar, though this time on the Upper West Side, not far from the Dakota Building on 72nd Street. (This would be like living in Hampstead) She could afford to live in Oregon for three years by letting out this apartment. She now lives in a brownstone studio in 63rd Street for $1800 (about GBP900) a month and her parents live in the original apartment.
In both cases, the price they bought the places for in '97 is now pennies compared to what they're worth today. It was such a sound investment for both of them.
On a final note about New York, they've started having affordable housing lotteries here. It was in the paper the other week, a couple in their 20s 'won' an apartment in a place that's really only comparable to Mayfair with a rent of $780 per month (almost GBP400 a month). I wonder if they have these in London?
I have a friend from the south as well who'd love to live in England and has half a million dollars to spare. (He has a six figure salary) Such a sum would only get him a two bedroom condo on the outskirts of London. However, if he wanted to stay where he is in North Carolina he could build a 4000 square foot mansion with a long drive and fountain out front, a pool out back and multiple garages.
'Tis indeed a popular topic of discussion in the modern world.
no subject
Living in New York, I've had a shared apartment arranged for me by work which is being taken away on conclusion of work. I've never found out how much it costs exactly, but being where it is I can only imagine I'd be pretty rich I've they'd paid me the money instead. Where it is has taken something of a downturn since 9/11, and indeed it couldn't have been much fun living here 4 to 5 years ago and recovery of the area has been slow compared to intial expectations. It's what we have the film festival for. I'm moving to Washington Heights among the Dominicans and the Yeishevah students. It's going to be something of a culture shock.
I have two friends who are in their early 30s now and are both owner occupiers from '97; one in Edinburgh, one in New York.
Edinburgh one was ordered by her mum while a student to use some money she came into to buy a two bedroom on Bruntsfield Links. She now lives in London as a postgrad student.
New York one was similar, though this time on the Upper West Side, not far from the Dakota Building on 72nd Street. (This would be like living in Hampstead) She could afford to live in Oregon for three years by letting out this apartment. She now lives in a brownstone studio in 63rd Street for $1800 (about GBP900) a month and her parents live in the original apartment.
In both cases, the price they bought the places for in '97 is now pennies compared to what they're worth today. It was such a sound investment for both of them.
On a final note about New York, they've started having affordable housing lotteries here. It was in the paper the other week, a couple in their 20s 'won' an apartment in a place that's really only comparable to Mayfair with a rent of $780 per month (almost GBP400 a month). I wonder if they have these in London?
I have a friend from the south as well who'd love to live in England and has half a million dollars to spare. (He has a six figure salary) Such a sum would only get him a two bedroom condo on the outskirts of London. However, if he wanted to stay where he is in North Carolina he could build a 4000 square foot mansion with a long drive and fountain out front, a pool out back and multiple garages.
'Tis indeed a popular topic of discussion in the modern world.